Back at CES, we had a chance to see and feel the Dell XPS 13 notebook, which is the smallest 13-incher that we have seen so far.

There is no doubt that this Broadwell-U fifth generation Core i5 powered notebook is something special, but we have noticed that in Europe it costs an arm and leg.

The basic configuration in the USA starts at very reasonable $799 + tax and, and in this SKU Dell offers a Core i3 5010U, 4GB RAM and 128GB HDD and non-touch display.

The cheapest XPS 13 in Europe costs €1329.00 or $1511.40 at today's exchagne rate, which is almost double the price. Let's be clear in Europe you will get a Core i5 5200U, 8GB or RAM and 256 GB HDD with a touchscreen display, which is clearly a faster and better equipped than US basic $799 configuration.

If we want to compare apples to apples, the same configuration in US would set you down $1099.99, again significantly less than what you would have to pay in Europe.

In case you are happy with spending €1499.00 you can even get the Core i5 5600U, a CPU option that currently is not available for US customers. There is even a 512GB SSD option is available in Germany too.

We believe that $799 is really nice price for the XPS13 inch machine, but €1329 with tax is simply too much. In the US you end up paying a bit more, as $799 is the price without sales tax that ranges between zero and 12 percent and in the worst case scenario, if you live in Arkansas the same notebook will cost $894.88. Best-case scenarios like Delaware means the $799 notebook is $799 as there is no sales tax there, in Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon.

In addition to a handful of mobile Core i5 and i7 CPUs scheduled for Q1 2013, as well as a few ULV parts including the Ivy Bridge-based Celerons, Fujitsu's product site for the Lifebook NH532 has revealed two more Intel CPUs, probably scheduled for the same time frame, the Core i3-2348M and the Core i5-3230M.

Judging by the designations and some specifications revealed by Fujitsu, the Core i3-2348M seems based on the Sandy Bridge architecture, works at 2.3GHz and features 3MB of L3 cache. As a part of the Core i3 mobile series, this dual-core will feature Hyper Threading and Intel HD 3000 graphics, but will lack some features like Turbo Boost and Small Business Advantage tools. The performance will most likely be identical to the Core i3-2350M.

The Core i5-3230M is based on Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture and works at 2.6GHz base and 3.2GHz maximum Turbo clock. This dual-core CPU packs 3MB of L3 cache, supports Hyper Threading, features Intel HD 4000 graphics and has a 35W TDP. The new Core i5-3230M is a direct successor to the Core i3-3210M and will be available in both BGA and PGA packages. The same CPU will be an option in Asus' G55VW 15.6-inch gaming notebook.

There has been a lot of talk regarding Intel's ULV lineup refresh scheduled for Q1 2013, and although we already heard about the 35W TDP Core i7-3540M, Core i5-3340M and Core i5-3380M as well as the ULV Core i7-3687U and Core i5-3437U parts for the Ultrabook segment, it appears that the refresh will also include two additional ULV CPUs, the Core i3-3227U and the Core i5-3337U.

The Core i3-3227U and the Core i5-3337UI are both expected to have the same 17W TDP. Both of them will also feature 3MB of L3 cache, Intel's HD 4000 graphics part and most likely, will support Intel's Hyper-threading technology. The Core i3-3227U will have a slightly higher (100MHz) clock when compared to the 1.8GHz clocked Core i3-3217U CPU released back in June. As a part of the cheaper ULV lineup, the Core i3-3227U will lack Intel's Turbo Boost feature and will most likely replace the previously noted Core i3-3217 CPU.

The Core i5-3337U will have a slightly lower 1.8GHz base clock, but will feature Intel's Turbo Boost that will take it as high as 2.7GHz when needed.

Both CPUs have appeared in recent specification pages for Toshiba Satellite notebooks.

During IDF 2012 Intel showcased what they call the "Next Unit of Computing," a fully featured compute unit cramped up on a 4x4-inch motherboard.

The platform includes the aforementioned 4x4-inch motherboard with integrated Core i3 CPU on a 7-series chipset, two SO-DIMM memory slots, mini-PCIe slot, mSATA slot, Ethernet, two HDMI outputs, and three USB ports. The platform is usually powered by an external AC/DC adapter but also has a two-pin header for an optional internal PSU.

Unfortunately, since 4x4-inch is not a standard form factor, at least not yet, Intel had to order a special chassis to represent the reference platform.

Of course, Core i3 and those features come at a price and such a platform, including chassis and power supply, is apparently aiming for a US $399 price. That does not even include the OS or mSATA SSD for system and storage. The Next Unit of Computing platform is expected to show up later this year.

Anandtech.com had a chance to check out the new platform up close and you can find the rest of the pictures here.

According to a report over at Xbitlabs.com, it appears that Intel might have finally buckled under ODM pressure and decided ti reduce prices of its ultra low-voltage Core i3 Ivy Bridge CPUs.

Citing a report by an analyst with Wiliams Financial Group, Intel will reduce the price of its Core i3 ULV chips by US $25 to $27, which does not sound like much, but actually represents a 11-percent slash if you take a look at Intel's Core i3-3217U 1.8GHz dual-core CPU. Currently, Intel's Core i3-3217U is the only Core i3 mobile chip with 17W TDP that fits in the Ultrabook picture and goes for US $225.

Intel has been trying to lower Ultrabooks pricing for quite some time and has recently suggested a switch from expensive materials to plastics, but this did not go well with ODMs and neither did the idea of reducing already low profit margins.

It is still left to be seen will the new price cut have any impact on the market, but considering that the back-to-school shopping is just around the corner, Intel might be looking to score by volume and not by price.

Although it has introduced two mobile Core i3 Ivy Bridge CPUs last month, Intel is still not scraping its Sandy Bridge architecture and preparing two new Core i3 CPUs scheduled for Q3, the Core i3-2308M and the Core i3-2365M.

Both of the upcoming new Core i3 CPUs feature two cores, 3MB of L3 cache, Intel's HD 3000 graphics and support for DDR3-1333 memory. They also feature support for Intel Hyper-threading, VT-x virtualization but lack all other advanced features like Turbo Boost and AES.

As far as the specs are concerned, the Core i3-2308M ticks at 2.1GHz while the graphics part is set to work at 650MHz with 1100MHz Turbo. It is based on PGA package and has a 35W TDP. It is pretty much the Core i3-2310M without Intel Small Business Advantage (SBA). The Core i3-2365M is identical and should replace the Core i3-2367M. The CPU part works at 1.4GHz while the GPU is working at 350MHz base and 1GHz Turbo clocks. It also lacks Intel SBA support and has a 17W TDP.

The Core i3-2308M and the Core i3-2365M are both probably aimed at mainstream notebooks and according to details, the Core i3-2365M is not qualified for the "Ultrabook" logo, despite its 17W TDP. Both should be officially released in September.

It was rumoured that Intel's Ivy Bridge Core i3 CPUs will ship on or about June 24th, and although it was not clear if we will see desktop or mobile parts, it appears that the date was correct. Intel has finally launched its third generation Core i3 CPUs but only for mobile market. The Core i3-3110M and the Core i3-3217U are both based on Intel's 22nm architecture and feature two cores, Intel HD 4000 Graphics and Hyper-threading.

When it comes to specs, the 2.4GHz clocked dual-core Core i3-3110M has 512kB (2x256kB) of L2 and 3MB of L3 cache, Intel HD 4000 Graphics and dual-channel DDR3-1600 memory. The Core i3-3110M supports hyper-threading, so you are looking at two cores and four threads, but lacks Intel's Turbo Boost technology and AES instructions. It is aimed at mainstream notebooks and has a 35W TDP.

The Core i3-3217U is an ULV dual-core CPU working at 1.8GHz. It is pretty much identical to the Core i3-3110M, so you are looking at 512MB of L2 cache and 3MB of L3 cache, same Intel HD 4000 graphics with somewhat lower clocks and hyper-threading. The low, 1.8GHz CPU clock sounds a tad bit too low but the 17W TDP is quite impressive since this one is aimed at Ultrabooks.

Our beloved Lost Swede over at VR-Zone has shed some light on Intel's upcoming Ivy Bridge Core i3 desktop lineup scheduled to launch sometime in Q3 2012. The full lineup will include a total of five models ranging from 2.8GHz clocked Core i3-3220T all the way up to the 3.4GHz Core i3-3240.

As you already know, Intel is currently streaching its Ivy Bridge launch and we'll first see Core i5 and Core i7 parts sometimes this month (29th or 23rd April depeding on which rumors are you following), while Core i3 parts are scheduled to launch at still unknown date in Q3 this year. According to the report over at VR-Zone, Intel's Core i3 lineup is devided in standard and T-models, latter intended for all-in-one systems. The standard models are rated at a 55W TDP while T-models are cut down to 35W TDP.

The standard lineup kicks off with 3.3GHz Core i3-3220 and also includes 3.3GHz Core i3-3225 and 3.4GHz Core i3-3240. Unlike the Core i3-3220 and Core i3-3240, the Core i3-3225 will be the only Core i3 part that will sport Intel HD 4000 graphics part while the rest of the lineup will stick to Intel HD 2500 graphics. The T-model lineup includes the aforementioned 2.8GHz Core i3-3220T and 3GHz clocked Core i3-3240T. It is important to note that we are talking here about dual-core CPUs with hyper threading and all models will feature 3MB of L3 cache. Another nice novelty is the added support for AES to all new Core i3 models.

The expected price of the Ivy Bridge Core i3 lineup should be somewhat similar to the price of their Sandy Bridge counterparts. As noted, the precise date is not carved in stone as Intel is currently focused solely on Core i5 and Core i7 launch.

We got curious about Intel’s decision to leave Core i3 out of mobile 3rd generation Core products, but this won’t affect the desktop version of Ivy Bridge Core i 3000 series.

They plan to launch three SKUs in the transactional market and two in low-power market. The top one is Core i3 3240 and it’s a 3.4GHz clocked dual-core with four threads and 3MB of cache. It supports DDR3 1600 and 1333 memory and it doesn’t offer any turbo clock. The Core i3 3240 has Intel HD 2500 graphics with 650MHz core clock and 1050MHz maximal clock and it operates under 55W TDP.

The runner up is Core i3 3225 and it’s a 3.3GHz clocked dual core with four threads and 3MB of cache. It supports DDR3 1600 and 1333 memory and also doesn’t offer turbo overlocking. None of Core i3 3000 series do. The Core i3 3225 has faster version of Intel HD 4000 graphics with 650MHz core clock and 1050MHz maximal clock and it operates under 55W TDP. Intel HD 4000 graphics is usually a feature of Desktop Core i7 and top Core i5 CPUs.

The slowest of three is Core i3 3220 which has the same spec as Core i3 3225 with graphics core as the only difference. This one is 3.3GHz clocked dual core with four threads and Intel HD 2500 graphics with 650 /1050 MHz core clock.

There will also be two more Core i3 both 35W TDP the faster Core i3 3240T at 3GHz and Core i3 3220T that works at 2.8GHz.

They are scheduled to launch in Q3 2012 but we don’t have an exact date yet.

The 29th of April launch date for Ivy Bridge has been pretty much confirmed from various rumours before, but now Donanimhaber.com scored a new slide that both confirms the date and details the entire lineup that should come later.

According to the slide, Intel plans to roll out around 10 different Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs on April 29th while the rest of the Core i7 and Core i5 lineup should follow on June 3rd. The 7-series chipset motheboards based on the Z77, Z75, H77 and B75 Express chipsets should hit retail on the same day while enterprise class Intel Q77 and Q75 are scheduled for June 3rd.

The Intel Core i3 and Intel Pentium CPUs based on the Ivy Bridge are the last of the lineup and are scheduled for holiday season.